DPP-4 inhibitors increase IBD risk in diabetes

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are associated with a 75% increase in the risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in individuals with type 2 diabetes, a study has found.

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Researchers reported the results of an observational cohort study of 141,170 patients with type 2 diabetes newly treated with noninsulin antidiabetic drugs, with 552,413 person years of follow-up. Of these, 30,488 patients (21.6%) received at least one prescription for a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, and median duration of use was 1.6 years.

The report was published March 21 in the BMJ.

The researchers found that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors were associated with a 75% increased risk of IBD, compared with other antidiabetic drugs (53.4 vs. 34.5 per 100,000 per year, 95% confidence interval, 1.22-2.49).